Semantic Maps

Maps are a visual way to document information. They can be used before reading/ instruction to introduce an idea or to activate prior knowledge. They can be used as guidance for reading and independent study while reading to give a purpose for reading, or they can be used after instruction/ reading for review and summary.

Maps help show the relationship between information. Three common types of relationships are:

1. associations of class-- the order of things the concept falls into;
2. associations of property-- the attributes that define the concept; and
3. associations of example-- exemplars of the concept.

How can I use it in class?

• Bubble Thinking Map for characteristics or attributes of a word or concept.

• Brace Thinking Map for looking at the parts that make up a word or concept.

• Bridge Thinking Map for creating analogies between words or concepts.

• Circle Thinking Map for analyzing ideas or words. The main concept or word goes in the middle of the circle. Synonyms or characteristics go in the outer ring. Antonyms or non-characteristic go outside the circle. Students have enough room to even draw connections instead of just writing them.

• Double Bubble Thinking Map allows you to compare and contrast, but more clearly than a Venn Diagram.

• Flow Thinking Map documents that steps in a process or the sequence of events. (Also use Cause and Effect Map)

• Cause and Effect Thinking Map records several events leading up to the main event and then several results from that main event. (Also use Flow Thinking Map)

• Tree Thinking Map allows you to classify words and ideas.

Resources

Semantic Feature Analysis Instructions
Feature Analysis Template
Mapping Variations
Semantic Mapping Lesson
Semantic Webbing (Mapping)
Sample Word Map 1
Sample Map 2
Sample Map 3 with visuals
Sample Map 4